The African and Religion

"Africans are notoriously religious... Religion permeates into all the departments of life so fully that it
is not easy or possible always to isolate it.... Wherever the African is, there is his[/her] religion...

"One of the sources of severe strain for Africans exposed to modern change is the increasing process (through education, urbanization and industrialization) by which individuals become detached from their traditional environment. This leaves them in a vacuum devoid of a solid religious foundation. They are torn between the life of their forefathers which, whatever else might be said about it, has historical roots and firm traditions, and the life of our technological age, which, as yet, for many Africans has no concrete form or depth.

"In this circumstances, Christianity and Islam do not seem to remove the sense of frustration and uprootedness. It is not enough to learn and embrace a faith which is active once a week, either on Sunday or Friday, while the rest of the week is virtually empty....

"Since traditional religions occupy the whole person and the whole of his[/her] life, conversion to new religions like Christianity and Islam must embrace his[/her] language, thought patterns, fears, social relationships, attitudes and philosophical disposition, if that conversion is to make a lasting impact upon the individual and his[/her] community."

John Mbiti

African Religions and Philosophy